Chapter 1

After the miscarriage from the car accident, I was overwhelmed with grief and lost my appetite.

To console me, Nolan organized an extravagant proposal ceremony.

Three days before the wedding, I went to pick him up from his bachelor party.

Unexpectedly, I overheard the conversation between him and his friends:

"Nolan, you deliberately sent someone to cause that car accident, just to get the fetal blood to save Delia's life? Didn't you consider what would happen if Melody found out? That was your child!"

"You're willing to sacrifice everything for Delia, even yourself?"

"It's just one child. As long as Delia can survive, I'd be willing to sacrifice a hundred children! As for Melody, she won't find out. She still thinks I'm in love with her."

Tears fell as my whole body froze.

So it turns out, our child was killed by his own hands.

Even the wedding I'd been looking forward to for five years was an elaborately planned deception.

If that's how it is, I'll agree to the arranged marriage my family wants.

This wedding, I'm giving it back to you!

------

The private room of the nightclub was a stark contrast to the lively music and dancing outside, with a somber atmosphere within.

Nolan stared at the bottle in front of him, his face full of regret and heartache.

"Even though she doesn't love me, if I can keep her alive, our acquaintance won't be in vain. If it means saving Delia's life, what's one child? As for Melody... I'll make it up to her slowly after we're married. We can have more children. She'll never find out."

Beside him, his brother Ivor looked on with a pained expression.

"It's a shame Delia still doesn't know that you arranged that surgery for her. That was your own flesh and blood! I saw during the procedure, it was a boy, already formed."

"Is it really worth it? Delia doesn't even love you! She only got close to you for the money!"

"Whether it's worth it or not is for my heart to decide. If she can live, I'll give anything. Not just one child, but my own life if necessary. I wouldn't even blink."

"It's all in the past now. Her being safe and healthy is my greatest wish."

"What about Melody? You've been together for five years, what does she mean to you? If one day she finds out that you killed your own child—"

He didn't finish the rest of his sentence.Nolan irritably downed the drink in front of him in one gulp.

"She'll never know. As long as I'm around, she'll never find out."

"I won't let her hurt Delia."

"You've lost your damn mind! Melody's a good girl, she's been by your side since you were a broke nobody. You... Forget it, make your own decisions. Just don't come crying when you regret this!"

The hand poised to knock froze midair.

Tears rolled down uncontrollably.

So that car accident wasn't an accident at all.

It was his scheme to use our baby to save Delia!

Delia was just his company secretary.

They'd only known each other for a mere six months.

Yet she held such an important place in his heart.

Important enough that he'd use our child's life as a bargaining chip!

A month ago, I miscarried in a car accident. To soothe my emotions, he fired Delia.

I thought he had a guilty conscience, worried I might overthink things.

Now I understand, he was afraid I'd suspect Delia for the accident!

That grand proposal was just his way of making up for his guilt.

I was such a fool to think I was happy, sharing the video everywhere.

It's laughable, really.

The waiter came in to deliver drinks, accidentally barging through the door in his haste.

Inside, they quickly fell silent.Nolan rose to greet me, a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Melody? What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to wait for me at home? When did you arrive? Why didn't you say anything?"

His intoxicated gaze betrayed little emotion.

I forced a smile, tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Just got here. I knew you'd be drinking and couldn't help worrying, so I came to pick you up."

He let out a sigh of relief.

Taking my hand, he planted a soft kiss on the back of it, his tone tinged with a hint of playfulness.

"I promised I wouldn't drink too much, didn't I? Trust me, darling. I'm saving my tolerance for our wedding, okay?"

"Thank you for coming to get me. I'm so lucky to have you..."

Ivor couldn't bear to watch any longer and excused himself from the private room, claiming he'd had too much to drink.

As I tidied up his things on the couch, I casually asked:

"Where's that secretary of yours? Haven't seen any updates from her lately?"